SAN FRANCISCO -- "The Golden Gate Bridge--nine thousand feet long, seven hundred and fifty feet tall, weighing 887,000 tons and coated in millions of gallons of International Orange paint--links the urbanity of San Francisco with the wild headlands of Marin County, as if to suggest the paradox of California and America itself," wrote California State Librarian Emeritus Kevin Starr in his new book "Golden Gate: The Life and Times of America's Greatest Bridge."

Starr was one of four panelists at The Commonwealth Club's tribute to the famous bridge, "The Golden Gate at 75: What Makes an Icon," on Thursday night. In his book, Starr called the bridge the most beautiful manmade structure on earth. And while some Egyptians might pose an argument, here at HuffPost SF, we couldn't agree more.

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On Sunday, the Golden Gate Bridge celebrates its 75th anniversary with a party fit for an icon, including a fair and festival, dancing and music, a historic watercraft parade and a nighttime firework spectacular. On each of the bridge's spires, UC Berkeley space scientists have even installed solar "birthday candles"-–mirror-coated heliostats designed to flicker in the sun.

The most recognizable bridge in the world, the Golden Gate remains a bit of an engineering marvel. The longest bridge before its construction was 700 feet shorter, and gapping the 1.7-mile stretch of Pacific was called an impossibility at the time of its conception. The Sierra Club (and reportedly The Commonwealth Club!) opposed the construction for environmental concerns, the military worried about exposing the city and old-time San Franciscans were against it because "they opposed anything that wasn't there already," joked Starr.

But nevertheless, the project was approved by popular vote, and construction began in 1933.

The span was completed in less than five years--ahead of schedule and under budget--without the use of computers or calculators. This fun fact serves as an especially sore reminder to a certain bridge on the other side of the city, whose current single span construction is nearly six years behind schedule and $5 billion over budget.

But Starr urged critics to take the Bay Bridge estimates in stride. "Eleven men died building the Golden Gate Bridge," he said. "Now there are safety and environmental concerns that we legitimately insist on that did not exist in 1937."

Of course, the Golden Gate is not without its flaws.

The astronomical cost of maintenance forces a continuous rise in tolls. At the 50th anniversary in 1987, bridge workers held their breath as the suspension stretched nearly to its limits to hold 300,000 pedestrians just one year after the roadway was reinforced. ("It's impossible to play 'ifs'," said Starr at the Commonwealth Club. "But lets put it this way: it's fortunate that that improvement happened before the anniversary event occurred.")

And most pointedly, the bridge has been the site of approximately 1,600 suicides--second only to Japan's Mount Mihara, an active volcano nicknamed "Suicide Point."

In 2008, the Golden Gate Bridge Board of Directors voted 14-1 to erect a safety net beneath the bridge. A similar net spared 19 lives during the bridge's construction: "the members of the halfway to hell club," noted Starr. Funding has stalled the new net's construction.

"You remember in Physics class--for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction," said Starr. "All of that beauty, that grace and magnificence. I think it can speak to someone differently, and act as a fatal attraction."

In his closing statement, fellow panelist American Society of Civil Engineers Chairman Paul Giroux remarked on the meaning and significance of the bridge.

"An icon represents something different to each of us," he said. "It gives us hope because it speaks to us as individuals; it speaks to our hopes and dreams for the future."

Traci Brodnax:Snapped this photo during my first walk ever across the Golden Gate Bridge in February 2009.

Jennifer Frimml:Where ocean meets the bay.

AgentAkit:Taken in April 2009 on a round-trip cruise to Mexico from San Francisco.

Andrea Scallon:

Rambosf:This was taken today (May 7, 2012) at Baker/Marshall Beach.

laurelxxi:Nothing's better than a clear sky and going over the Golden Gate Bridge!

Genia Roper:

Leandro Pimenta:

anacaren08:This bird seems to enjoy the view of the Golden Gate Bridge too.

shakedown1970:

shakedown1970:Golden Gate Bridge from on the Bay

Greg Linhares:Saturday, May 5, 2012.

Greg Linhares:

Greg Linhares:

Blasphemous Girl:I took this while on a cruise around the Bay

lilliewinghere:Nic and The Golden Gate Bridge, A Majestic combination!

mrbblack:Structure

newmanfilm:Surfers enjoying the waves at Fort Point

whube:Golden Gate

Melissa Lake:This picture was taken through the windshield of my car as we drove across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Jack Kulp:I got the chance to go to the very top of the GG Bridge about thirty years ago. And, yes. That's my foot

Jaime Echeverri:

ckim:Nikki at GGB

bpope8:A light fog rolls in through the city on a beautiful February evening in 2012.

Hector Machuca:

bpope8:On May 5th 2012 the Moon rised up over the City of San Francisco and lit up the sky and waters beautifully. The Super Moon they called it was truly remarkable.

bpope8:A look at the famous Golden Gate Bridge at night with the light trails from the vehicles traveling north & south bound. The light combined with the candy apple red bridge sparked Golden as ever.

bpope8:This was taken during the "Blue Hour" and it provided a cobalt blue sky which contrasted nicely with The Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Bay.

jacivico:Cellphone photography + fisheye toy lens

Randall Paetzold:While driving home from an all-day family outing in Tomales Bay. Only moments later after merging on to the 80 south and cleared the trees from Cesar Chaves Park; we saw this (see photo). I broke out my Nikon 5000, slapped on my Nikkor 70-300mm lens, calmed my breathing, focused and shot. All the while, sitting as one of the seven backseat passengers in our VW van zipping through traffic. You'd never know by the shot. Ha! R!

Dutt561:The Golden Gate Bridge, with the Golden Gate National Recreational Area in the background

Agata Kaczmarska:

bpope8:The Super Moon with it's orange color shined bright over The City and through the iron rods of the Golden Gate Bridge on May 5th 2012.

offsite2000:View from Angel Island Ferry

paulasilver:i snapped this out of the car window over winter break with my family. i really love the fluidity of it.

:

rjjacks:Surfing the Golden Gate

rjjacks:A foggy day at the Golden Gate

stidf:

1dark1:

1dark1:

tydoj:My favorite shot taken while on my newborn son's first walk at Crissy Fields.

PaulWardein:By Paul Wardein

tydoj:The best view...looking up while crossing the bridge!

TallTiki:During a run to the Golden Gate I took in the view of the the bridge, the surfers, the awesome weather, and the amazon view.

RVCRAIG99:

M Moreno:A seldom seen view from KIrby Cove in the Marin Headlands.

Nyclaguy:New Years Day, crusing with friends in the Bay

Steven Weller:Taken on the Golden Gate Bridge from the South Tower in January 2012

mlevison:Taken August 23rd, 2004 at about 6pm heading south from Marin to San Francisco. The lights are already on because the fog makes it so dark. The middle lane is closed to prevent head-on collisions in the gloom that's so thick you can't see the South tower from the North tower.

erinlemoine:

Adam Sorensen:Chilly day

MauriceBizzarri:GGB during the 50th. Anniversary festivities. Notice the flat part of the bridge in the middle. Never seen before, and will never be seen again!

Patti Austin-Murray:Sorry if am sending a double - may have made mistake with crop. Many thanks!!

Jim Shubin:Typical summer sailing on the Bay.

Rob Eiring:

Paul Reader:Late afternoon on a perfect late fall day, served this vista up from the roof of the Fort at Fort Point.

Jacob Pep Pepper:Photo by PEP Pepper
www.peppepper.tumblr.com

Chuck Kuhn:

Chuck Kuhn:

Chuck Kuhn:

Chuck Kuhn:

bahaar:OMG 75..!!!

Jim Shubin:Shot during the Master Mariners Race in 2011

Jim Shubin:

FIGandTULIP:freezing on a sail boat circa 2005

FIGandTULIP:burrr. but pretty.

jarrett clark:

Manel de la Rosa:Kirby cove night shot.

Manel de la Rosa:

Mandy Gilbertson:Historic Golden Cables

David Korman:March 11, 2010, from Torpedo Wharf near Crissy Field.

joegaribaldi:One of the best spots for catching sunsets in SF!

joegaribaldi:

firstad:Fog envelopes the south end but the bridges expanse over the water is visible and amazing.

firstad:Fog envelopes the south end but the bridges expanse over the water is visible and amazing.

Jim Spigner:Engulfed in fog

Jim Spigner:

Alfonso Beasley:

RichardStreet:Moonset,Golden Gate Bridge and Transameria Pyramid

RichardStreet:Moonset, sunrise, south tower and suspension cables

RichardStreet:Moonsetting at the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge

Derinda63:My Daddy in the early 60's

fpolito:Just before the full moonrise over the Golden Gate Bridge

RichardStreet:Moonsetting at the south tower, abstract, during the 2012 eclipse

Frank Polito:The Golden Gate Bridge just before the full moonrise.

Toby Hancock:www.flickr.com/photos/tobysx70

desertpatriot:My wife and I drove our 1932 Ford Roadster on a 5000 mile trip from South Dakota to Los Angeles and all the way up to Oregon on the Pacific Coast Highway which included the Golden Gate Bridge. This is a trip we will never forget, and the Golden Gate Bridge is unforgetable!

Dalton Abshire Jr:

Dalton Abshire Jr:

Anahita Wendy Bird:

Hector Machuca:

ryland glenn15:I shot this back in March during a beautiful thunderstorm. 1 of 4 shots..

Kevin Eccles:

kimberly klein:Taken from the overlook on the North side. The bridge is wreathed in ethereal clouds yet it is still magnificent.

dweb:Air Photo of Golden Gate Bridge during afternoon commute as fog rolls through the Gate

Sharon Norvell:The Golden Gate Bridge as seen from the top of Ortega Stree in San Francisco.

Sharon Norvell:

rtoo:

Go Bears12:Taken from the Vista Point Overlook in Marin.

IreneD:San Francisco through the Golden Gate from Marin Headlands

bambooken:Baker Beach View
Ken Heyman

bambooken:Rex and Bridge
Ken Heyman

Raygae:The bright beauty shines in the fog.
December 2001

sukhar:From Marin Headlands

Raygae:View from a Sunday brunch cruise, 2002

NZSteveC:Surfer at Fort Point under the GG Bridge

Robert Johnsen:Hand-held evening shot.

jeremybrault:View from the top of Hawk Hill

dollylana:Water Over The Bridge

dollylana:75 Candles

jeremybrault:

neilt3d:Fireworks surround the Golden Gate during the 75th anniversary celebrations

dollylana:Golden Gate Bridge Party

James Maxwell:until 25 years from now!!

Victor Douglas:Taken just before sunset from the hill above the South Anchorage.

rachelandmck:From the top of the south tower, looking to Marin

rachelandmck:

jdl1pt:Taken handheld on a hill overlooking the bridge 5/27/12

jreeher:

Steamboater:What better symbol for a city that welcomes everyone than a bridge. The Gold Gate Bridge is a hand stretched out not only across the bay, but to all people.

Robert Basham:

david888wood:My east coast friend Pauls spotted this body on my tour guide of the Marin headlins in 1975. Was it a suicide?
Scanned from a Kodachrome slide taken w/my Fuji DL-7 camera.

Andreja Zevnik:

quzol1:A winter sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge

Kubenzi:

Victor Douglas:View of the apex of the Transamerica building through the North Tower of the Golden Gate Bridge.

dijonaise:She has been gone for over 5 years now and I still miss her terribly!

jgoodrick:Rare pic of top of Golden Gate Bridge showing above the fog at sunset with city view in background!

dijonaise:On the Hornblower Yacht Cruise, 4:20 Nov. 28, 2008

Matthew J Barnes:On a glorious April afternoon in 2011.

Matthew J Barnes:Possibly the single best place to view the bridge...

ghost geezer:Golden Gate Bridge Suspension Cables

aclezio:

ghost geezer:This bridge supports many things.

ghost geezer:in memory of Captain Rob Michaan

ghost geezer:in memory of Captain Rob Michaan

Patti Austin-Murray:Was trying my new IPhone 4S - took two pictures - this is one of them. A BIG thanks Steve Jobs!!

Patti Austin-Murray:Getting used to my IPhone 4S - no traffic early morning - waves were crashing - it was cold and damp - no one around save an occasional runner.

wadbc:weird

wadbc:FromUnder

Serena Jenkins:A Foggy Morning

Frank Polito:Even in Black & White, The Golden Gate majestically welcomes all to San Francisco.

fouad boutros:Take from the Baker Beach side of the bridge on the 75th anniversary.

Doug Hanlin:

lfdeepblue:My arms are flung across the deep,
Into the clouds my towers soar,
And where the waters never sleep,
I guard the California shore.
~ Joseph P. Strauss, Chief Engineer, Golden Gate Bridge and Highway District

makoc:

JIm Mourgos:At the fireworks/light show near Fort Point, San Francisco

pelicancoast:Late homecoming.

ally2666:

omalleycat:Golden Gate 75th Anniversary Fireworks from Lincoln Park.

Friedrich Straker:

Friedrich Straker:

Friedrich Straker:

royfotograf:Taken mid-afternoon on Dec. 7, 1987, the same afternoon PSA flight 1771 tragedy that eventually led to company dissolving.

SeleneVideo:Golden Gate Bridge 75 years old

SeleneVideo:approaching on foot...

SeleneVideo:visitors watching... on her 75th birthday

SeleneVideo:on the bridge, birthday 75 years old

omalleycat:Spanning the Golden Gate for 75 years. We salute you and especially those that exchanged the treasure of their lives for the treasure we enjoy today!

ChoiBoy:The Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Bay

Megan Hyde:Golden Gate Bridge from the park last July.

sfsueny:Taken from the headlands side of the GG Bridge in 2008 - a spectacular place.